Huntsville gazette., 1887-05-14

superb human machine in action, delightful
to behold. His gestures were mainly with
his open, uplifted land, and made emphatic
by striking it down, sometimes clenched,
into his open, upturned right hand. He had
a magnificent voice-resonant, well modu-
lated full, under complete control, capable
on occasions of great vehemence, yet always
pleasant to the ear"
After mentioning that it was Garfield's
custom ito refer to the old hall Of the House
of Representatives In the Capitol, which con
tains SO many marble statues of Americas
illustrious men, as The third House wherein
the dead spoke, he added that in due time,
as this nation grows older, the forest OF
statues of the distinguished dead gathered in
this beautiful city will be spoken of as the
mute power in the nations capital"
After eulogizing further Garfield's private
character and public career, he gave glow
ing enumeration of the famous generals OF
the army of the Cumberland who "have
passed on to join the Grand Army of the Re-
public beyond the grave"
Then came the peroration, as follows:
"More people mourned the death of James
Abram Garfield than ever before mourned
the death of military hero, statesman,
othoioi hAiiS1 CllliCIOi VI ut
fifty millions of citizens of this country stood
al md his bier and shed burning tears of sor-
row. and the good of the world mourned sin
cerely with them. Britain's proud queen laid
floral tribute on his funeral casket The
most humble citizens of this Nation were the
sincerest mourners at his tomb In the hour
of the Nations deepest sorrow, how many,
from the anguish of their souls, cried out:
fN,.1x
ington still lives" Garfield dead Com
manding the highest art of the most gifted
sculptor artists of this advanced age, his
comrades Of the field, aided by his country,
have placed this statue here in commenda-
tion of his good deeds in life. What he Sc
willingly and so often helped to do for others
of his comrades, who now reverently do for
him.
Enduring as this bronze statue may be,
the ruthless vandal or inconclast may demol-
ish it, or time, that destroyer of all things
not fashioned by Omnipotence, will crumble
it to dust. What the artist has done, and
what we may do or say here to preserve and
perpetuate his name or fame may pass away
and be forgotten. But the sun of his glory
has risen full orbed, high in the armament
of eternal truth and justice, there to shine
on and on through the ages"
At the conclusion of the grafton, Gen.
Keifer on behalf of the monument commit
tee, formally transferred the statue to Gen.
Sheridan, representing the Army of the
Cumberland, who in turn transferred it to
President Cleveland The president, in ac
cepting the statue on behalf of the United
States, said:
''FELLow-CITIZENs: In performance OF
the duty assigned to me on this occasion, |
hereby accept, on behalf Of the people Of the
United States, this completed and beautiful
statue. Amid the interchange of fraternal
greetings between the survivors of the army
of the Cumberland and their former foes
upon the battlefield and while the Union
general and the peoples president awaited
burial, the common grief of these magnani-
nous soldiers and mourning citizens found
expression in the determination to erect this
tribute to American greatness, and thus to-
day, in its symmetry and beauty, it presents
a sign of animosities forgotten, an emblem
of brotherhood redeemed, and a token of
a nation restored.
monuments and statues multiply through
out the land fittingly illustrative Of the love
and affection of our grateful people and com
memorating brave and patriotic sacrifices in
war, fame in peaceful pursuits, or honor in
public station. But from this day forth there
shall stand at our seat of government this
statue Of a distinguished citizen, who in his
life and services combined all these things
and more which challenge admiration in
American character-loving tenderness in
every domestic relation bravery on the field
of battle, fame and distinction in our halls
Of legislation, and the highest honor and dig
nifty in the chief magistracy of the nation.
''This stately effigy shall not fail to teach
every beholder that the source of A merican
greatness is confined to no condition, nor de-
pendent alone for its growth and develop
ment upon favorable surroundings. The
genius of our National life beacons to useful
ness and honor those in every sphere, and
offers the highest preferment to manly am
bition and sturdy, honest effort, chastened
and consecrated by patriotic hopes and aspi-
rations. As long as this statue stands, let it
be proudly remembered that to every Amer
lean citizen the way is open to fame and
station, until he
Moving up from high to higher,
Becomes on fortunes GROWING slope
The Pillar of a peoples hope,
The center of world 8 desire.'
"Nor can we forget that it also teaches our
people sad and distressing lesson; and the
thoughtful citizen who views its fair proper
tions cannot fail to recall the tragedy of a
death which brought grief and mourning to
every household in the land But while
American citizenship stands aghast and af-
frighted that murder and assassination
should lurk in the midst of free people and
strike down the head of their government, a
fearless search and the discovery of the
origin and hiding place of these hateful and
unnatural things should be followed by
solemn resolve to purge forever from our
political methods and from the operation of
our government, the perversions and mis-
conceptions which give birth to passionate
and bloody thoughts.
"If from this hour our admiration for the
bravery and nobility Of American manhood
and our faith in the possibilities and oppor-
tunities of American citizenship be renewed,
if our appreciation of the blessing of a re-
stored union and love for our government be
strengthened, and if our watchfulness against
the dangers of a mad chase after partisan
spoils be quickened, the dedication of this
statue to the people of the United States will
not be in vain.
When the president had concluded, "Hail
Columbia was rendered with will, and the
ceremonies were ended with the benediction
by Rev. +. d. Power.
N. 4